An alert system includes a vehicle that transmits predetermined verification information within a communication range and a portable terminal that performs a predetermined alert operation on receiving the verification information. The portable terminal includes a control part that stores reference status being status of the vehicle and needing no alert operation. The control part regularly receives the verification information within the communication range. The control part determines that an alert operation is necessary when the portable terminal is moved out of the communication range from inside of the communication range and when a result of comparison between the verification information received immediately before the portable terminal is moved out of the communication range and the reference status stored in advance indicates that the verification information and the reference status are different. The control part performs the alert operation when it is determined that the alert operation is necessary.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An alert system for a user of a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle-mounted communication device mounted in the vehicle and transmits first information representing a current status of the vehicle within a predetermined communication range around the vehicle; and a portable terminal carried by the user and configured to receive the first information from the vehicle-mounted communication device, the portable terminal comprising: an alarm device that performs a predetermined alert operation to notify the user of the current status of the vehicle upon receiving the first information; a memory device that stores second information representing a predetermined status of the vehicle in which no alert operation is assumed to be necessary; and a controller comprising an alert necessity determiner that (i) regularly receives the first information within the communication range and stores the latest first information while updating the stored first information, (ii) detects whether a position of the portable terminal is changed from inside of the communication range to outside of the communication range, and (iii) when the position of the portable terminal is changed from the inside of the communication range to the outside the communication range, compares the second information with the latest first information received immediately before the position of the portable terminal is changed to the outside of the communication range, wherein based on a result of said comparison, the alert necessity determiner determines that the alert operation is necessary when the current status of the vehicle represented by the latest first information received immediately before the position of the portable terminal is changed to the outside of the communication range is different from the predetermined status of the vehicle represented by the stored second information.
An alert system for a vehicle user uses a vehicle-mounted device that broadcasts the vehicle's current status (e.g., door lock, engine state) within a short range. A portable device carried by the user (like a smartphone) receives this status. The portable device stores a "safe" vehicle status. It constantly monitors the vehicle's broadcast. When the portable device moves out of range of the vehicle, it compares the last received vehicle status with the stored "safe" status. If the statuses differ, the portable device triggers an alert, notifying the user of a potential issue (e.g., car unlocked when leaving).
2. The alert system according to claim 1 , wherein the alert necessity determiner is further configured to detect based on the first information whether an predetermined alighting condition under which the vehicle is assumed not to be in operation by the user is satisfied, and to compare the second information with the first information received immediately before a predetermined time elapses after the predetermined alighting condition is satisfied, wherein the alert necessity determiner determines that the alert operation is necessary when the current status of the vehicle represented by the first information received immediately before the predetermined time elapses is different from the predetermined status of the vehicle stored in the second information, regardless of the position of the portable terminal.
Building upon the alert system described previously, this version includes a feature that monitors for an "alighting condition" (e.g., driver's door opening) indicating the user has left the vehicle. After the alighting condition is detected, the system waits a set amount of time. It then compares the vehicle's current status with the stored "safe" status, regardless of the portable device's location relative to the vehicle. If the statuses differ, an alert is triggered. This is useful for detecting issues even if the user remains near the vehicle.
3. The alert system according to claim 2 , wherein the first information comprises information as to whether any one of doors of the vehicle is opened while the vehicle is stopped, and the alert necessity determiner determines that the alighting condition is satisfied when it is detected from the first information that any one of doors of the vehicle is opened while the vehicle is stopped.
Expanding on the alert system where an alighting condition triggers a status check (as described previously), this implementation defines the alighting condition as detecting a door opening while the vehicle is stopped. The vehicle's broadcast data includes whether any door is open and whether the vehicle is stationary. When the system detects a door opening while stopped, it initiates the timer and subsequent status comparison, potentially triggering an alert if the vehicle's status deviates from the stored "safe" status.
4. The alert system according to claim 2 , wherein the portable terminal further comprises an alert operation adjuster that enables the user to change at least one of the predetermined status in the second information and the predetermined time.
Extending the alert system where the user is alerted a predetermined time after exiting the vehicle (as previously described), this version includes a user interface on the portable terminal that allows the user to adjust two settings: 1) the "safe" vehicle status stored in the system, and 2) the amount of time the system waits after detecting the alighting condition before comparing the vehicle statuses. This customization allows the user to tailor the alert system to their specific needs and preferences.
5. The alert system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second information comprise items representing the status of the vehicle, the portable terminal further comprises a display screen that is visually discernible to the user, and in the alert operation, the display screen displays at least one of the items which is different between the first information and the second information according to the result of the comparison performed by the alert necessity determiner.
In the alert system where the portable device compares the vehicle's current status with a stored "safe" status (as described before), this version includes a display screen on the portable device. When an alert is triggered due to a difference in vehicle status, the display screen shows the specific items that are different between the current status and the "safe" status. For example, it might display "Driver Door: Unlocked" to pinpoint the exact issue.
6. The alert system according to claim 1 , wherein the alert necessity determiner determines that the position of the portable terminal is changed from the inside of the communication range to the outside of the communication range when electric field intensity detected in the communication receiving the first information at the portable terminal falls below a predetermined threshold, and the electric field intensity represents a time average value of electric field intensity detected in the communication regularly receiving the first information.
In the alert system where the portable device triggers an alert when it moves out of range of the vehicle (as previously described), this feature defines "out of range" by measuring the signal strength of the vehicle's broadcast signal. The portable device monitors the signal strength and determines it's "out of range" when the time-averaged signal strength drops below a predefined threshold. This threshold represents the boundary of the communication range.
7. The alert system according to claim 6 , wherein the portable terminal further comprises a setting adjuster that enables the user to change the predetermined threshold of the electric field intensity for defining the communication range.
Expanding on the signal strength based range detection mechanism (as previously described), this implementation allows the user to adjust the signal strength threshold that defines the communication range. The portable device provides a setting that lets the user increase or decrease the threshold, effectively shrinking or expanding the area in which the vehicle status is monitored. This can be useful for adjusting the system's sensitivity to range.
8. An alert system for a user of a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle-mounted communication device mounted in the vehicle and transmits first information representing a current status of the vehicle within a predetermined communication range around the vehicle; and a portable terminal carried by the user and configured to receive the first information from the vehicle-mounted communication device, the portable terminal comprising: an alarm device that performs a predetermined alert operation to notify the user of the current status of the vehicle upon receiving the first information; a motion sensor that detects whether or not the portable terminal is in a stationary state; a memory device that stores second information representing a predetermined status of the vehicle in which no alert operation is assumed to be necessary; and a controller comprising an alert necessity determiner that (i) regularly receives the first information within the communication range and stores the latest first information while updating the stored first information, (ii) detects whether a position of the portable terminal is in the communication range, (iii) compares the latest first information with the second information when it is detected that the position of the portable terminal is in the communication range and that the portable terminal is in the stationary state, and (iv) determines that the alert operation is necessary when the current status of the vehicle represented by the latest first information is different from the predetermined status of the vehicle represented by the stored second information.
An alternative alert system for a vehicle user uses a vehicle-mounted device that broadcasts the vehicle's current status within a short range. A portable device carried by the user receives this status and includes a motion sensor to detect if it's stationary. The portable device stores a "safe" vehicle status. When the portable device is within range of the vehicle and is stationary, it compares the current vehicle status with the stored "safe" status. If the statuses differ, the portable device triggers an alert, notifying the user of a potential issue. The alert is triggered only when the portable device is inside the communication range *and* is not moving.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 3, 2015
August 15, 2017
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.